Methods and apparatus for multi-path mesh network encryption and key generation

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to networking technologies, communication cube technologies, and, more particularly, to methods, apparatus, techniques, and means for communication security, encryption, and privacy in network communications.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/398,224, filed Aug. 10, 2021, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Multi-Path Mesh Network Encryption and Key Generation”, the disclosure of which is incorporated, in its entirety by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to networking technologies and, more particularly, to methods, apparatus, techniques, and means for communication security, encryption, and privacy in networks.

BACKGROUND

In today's society, network reliability, security, and stability have become increasingly important. For example, such network reliability, security, and stability are especially important in the context of preventing disruption to and/or interception of communications, disruption relating to the transfer of digital content, and preventing disruption to and/or security breaches of business, critical infrastructure, and/or military operations.

Encryption of data communicated over networks is a common and reasonably effective way of preventing such communications from being decipherable by unauthorized persons if intercepted and/or otherwise received. One common technique for data encryption over networks is the use of public-private key pairs to encrypt the data within a communication stream. However, public-private key encryption still has several shortcomings. For instance, if a private key falls into the wrong hands, then any data sent using that associated key pair can be decrypted. Furthermore, as computers become more and more powerful, it is becoming easier to reverse engineer a private key from the corresponding public key. In addition, most, if not all, techniques for generating public-private key pairs have inherent biases that make certain keys more likely than others, thereby making it even easier to reverse engineer key pairs.

SUMMARY

Systems and accompanying methods for generating encryption keys and encrypting and/or securing communications using generated keys in network communications are provided.

In an embodiment, the same system that is used to create the keys may be used to communicate data using those keys, allowing a dual purpose of both encryption and communication.

In one embodiment, a system for facilitating self-healing of a network is provided. The system may include a memory that stores instructions and a processor that executes the instructions to perform various operations of the system. The system may perform an operation that includes receiving a packet from a first network node, the packet having as a destination a second network node; randomly selecting (i) a third network node to which to transmit the packet and (ii) a transmission mode by which to transmit the packet to the third network node; and transmitting the packet to the randomly selected third network node using the randomly selected transmission mode.

In another embodiment, a method is implemented in a first network node of transmitting a packet in a mesh communication network comprising a plurality of network nodes, at least the first one of the network nodes having multiple transmission modes for communicating with other network nodes of the network. The method may include receiving a packet from a second network node, the packet having as a destination a third network node; randomly selecting (i) a fourth network node to which to transmit the packet and (ii) a transmission mode by which to transmit the packet to the fourth network node; and transmitting the packet to the randomly selected fourth network node using the randomly selected transmission mode in a multi-modal system.

According to yet another embodiment, a method of generating a public private encryption key pair is disclosed. The method may comprise receiving a packet in a mesh network, wherein the packet includes a header, wherein the header includes information disclosing a pathway that the packet had taken through the network; generating a random number based of the pathway information; and generating an encryption key based on the random number.

These and other features of the systems and methods for facilitating self-healing of a network are described in the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for monitoring, controlling, and communicating in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for monitoring, controlling, and communicating in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for monitoring, controlling, and communicating in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a method for monitoring, controlling, and communicating of devices in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a method for monitoring, controlling, and communicating of devices in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for communicating with, identifying, monitoring, and controlling electronic devices connected to a circuit, in an embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for communicating with, identifying, monitoring, and controlling electronic devices connected to a circuit, in an embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for communicating with, identifying, monitoring, and controlling electronic devices connected to a circuit, in an embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a system for communicating with, identifying, monitoring, and controlling electronic devices connected to a circuit, in an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a system for communicating with, identifying, monitoring, and controlling electronic devices connected to a circuit, in an embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates aspects of a clamp for connecting a multifunction communication cube (MCC) to an electrical power circuit, in an embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates aspects of a clamp for connecting a multifunction communication cube (MCC) to an electrical power circuit, in an embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates aspects of a clamp for connecting a multifunction communication cube (MCC) to an electrical power circuit, in an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for facilitating self-healing of a network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to facilitate self-healing of a network.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating a sample method for randomizing packet pathways through a network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating a sample method for generating encryption keys according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention are described below. It should be noted that these and any other embodiments are exemplary and are intended to be illustrative of the invention rather than limiting. While the invention is widely applicable to different types of systems, it is impossible to include all of the possible embodiments and contexts of the invention in this disclosure. Upon reading this disclosure, many alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

With the growth of the Internet of Things, existing devices are becoming networked in order to enable the monitoring, controlling, and communicating of the devices. For example, lighting and lighting systems are devices that are becoming networked in order to control power, color, and brightness. Currently, the method for incorporating a control system into an existing lighting system may be carried out by running wire or cable from a control device/panel to the lighting system. The running of the wire or cable may cost $10,000 per floor and may require days to accomplish. Additionally, the control device/panel may cost between $10,000 to $15,000. With such economics, the implementation of the Internet of Things to existing lighting systems has been slow in coming.

A method, apparatus, and system for monitoring, controlling, and communicating of devices may be described. The method, apparatus, and system may use a radio communication to power line communication bridge and networking system for the monitoring, controlling, and communicating of devices, such as lighting systems. This method, apparatus, and system may not require the running of wire or cable and may be deployed in hours, not days, at a fraction of the cost of existing control systems. Since the apparatus may be used with any lighting fixture or lamp brand, the apparatus may be integrated into any existing lighting system.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for monitoring, controlling, and communicating in accordance with embodiments.

In embodiments, apparatus 100 may comprise at least one powernet control unit and at least one communication cube. The powernet control unit (PCU) 105 may comprise a PCU housing 107, a system bus 109, at least one processor 111, system memory 113, at least one non-transitory memory unit 115, a power port 117, an internal battery 119, a communication port 121, an inter-PCU/CC wireless module 123, and a GPS module 125, all of which may be directly or indirectly coupled to each other. The communication cube (CC) 106 may comprise a CC housing 127, a system bus 129, at least one processor 131, system memory 133, at least one non-transitory memory unit 135, an internal battery 137, an inter-PCU/CC wireless module 139, at least one control port 141, at least one control clamp 143, at least one monitor sensor 145, a RFID module 147, and a Bluetooth module 149, all of which may be directly or indirectly coupled to each other. In the installation of the apparatus, the PCU 105 may be mounted on the back of a flat electrical strike plate and may be powered by the internal battery 119 or by A/C power 151 through the power port 117 in embodiments. In embodiments, the communication port 121 may comprise at least one of a Wi-Fi radio, an Ethernet port, and a power line communication (PLC) bridge and may allow for the communication between powernet control units 105 and external control and monitoring devices such as mobile device 153, local server 155, and/or remote server 157. For Wi-Fi, PLC, and Ethernet, communication may be established through a communication gateway 159 such as a router/PLC/modem. Using a communication cube control web portal or a communication cube control app (PCU/CC dashboard application), at least one of the local servers 155 and the mobile device 153 may be used to communicate with the PCU 105 and the CC 106 through the communication gateway 159. Additionally, the communication gateway 159 may be connected to the Internet 161, thus making it possible for the remote server 157 and/or the mobile device 153, using a communication cube control web portal or a communication cube control app, to communicate with the PCU 105 and the CC 106. The PCU 105 may communicate with the CC 106 through the inter-PCU/CC wireless module 123 of the PCU 105 with the inter-PCU/CC wireless module 139 of the CC 106. The inter-PCU/CC wireless modules 123, 139 may comprise at least one of a Bluetooth radio, 6LoWPan radio, and ZigBee radio. Bluetooth, 6LoWPan, and ZigBee may encompass all past, current, and future versions of the wireless protocols. The powernet control units which are connected to the PLC may be nodes which in turn may be in communication with the communication cubes 106. Each PCU node may be capable of identifying the communication cubes 106 which are connected to it. This network of communication cubes 106 connected to PCU nodes which are connected via PLC may be referred to as a powernet.

In embodiments, the CC 106 may be mounted within a lighting fixture and may be powered by the internal battery 137 or by one of the at least one control clamp 143 spliced into the power line to the lighting fixture. The control clamp may be designed to splice the power line to a lighting fixture without having to shut down power to the lighting fixture or device. After splicing the power line, direct power to the lighting fixture may be removed and the CC 106 may now be capable of controlling the lighting fixture or device, thus enabling control for dimming, color, and other primary and secondary functions such as, but not limited to Li-Fi management and emergency controls. Since the control clamp 143 is tapped into the power line, the control clamp 143 may also be able to provide power to the CC 106 through the control port 141. The CC 106 may also comprise at least one monitor sensor 145 to monitor for occupancy in the area of the lighting fixture as well as the lighting fixture location and status.

In embodiments, the RFID module 147 and Bluetooth module 149 of the CC 106 may be used to establish a beacon. The RFID module 147 may be used to monitor the space around the lighting fixture or device for any RFID transmitters. In a hospital setting, the RFID transmitters may be mounted onto tables, drug carts, wheel chairs, etc. The CC 106 may then be able to keep track of the RFID transmitters in the vicinity of the lighting fixture. The Bluetooth module 149 may be used to continuously ping the area around the lighting fixture for any nearby Bluetooth enabled devices. The vast majority of phones and devices since 2006 may respond to this pinging, thus enabling the CC 106 to map and monitor the number of people that are carrying Bluetooth phones and devices that are in the vicinity of the lighting fixture. The processing of the RFID and Bluetooth monitoring may be handled locally by the at least one processor 131 of the CC 106. By having this map of people and things, if a patient is looking for a particular facility within the hospital, the path of least resistance (i.e. least congestion) for the patient to get to the particular facility may be determined from the data collected from RFID monitoring and Bluetooth pinging. This path may be transmitted to the patient who is running the hospital's mobile application on a Bluetooth enabled phone. In embodiments, the Bluetooth module 149 may be used to transmit offers, promotions, or other information to an individual with a Bluetooth enabled phone running a particular store or promotion mobile application. In such a scenario, if a customer is shopping at a grocery store and is running a store's mobile application on a Bluetooth enabled phone and the customer approaches the soft drink aisle, the CC 106 may be able to determine that the customer is in the soft drink aisle and may be able to present the customer offers and promotions for products that are also in the soft drink aisle. The CC 106 may present offers for products that are available since the CC 106 may use its RFID module 147 to detect for products labeled with RFID tags.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for monitoring, controlling, and communicating in accordance with embodiments.

In embodiments, apparatus 200 may comprise at least one powernet control communication cube 205. The powernet control communication cube (PCCC) 205 may comprise a housing 207, a system bus 209, at least one processor 211, system memory 213, at least one non-transitory memory unit 215, a power port 217, an internal battery 219, a communication port 221, at least one control port 223, at least one control clamp 225, at least one monitor sensor 227, a GPS module 229, an RFID module 231, and a Bluetooth module 233, all of which may be directly or indirectly coupled to each other.

In embodiments, the PCCC 205 may be mounted within a lighting fixture or on the back of a flat electrical strike plate and may be powered by the internal battery 219 or by using one of the control clamps 225 coupled to the power port 217 to tap into a power line. Alternatively, the power port 217 may draw its power internally from one of the control clamps 225 connected to the control port 223. The communication port 221 may comprise at least one of a Wi-Fi radio, a PLC bridge, an Ethernet port, ZigBee radio, 6LoWPan radio, and a Bluetooth radio and may allow for the communication between powernet control communication cubes 205 and external control and monitoring devices such as mobile device 235 and remote server 237. Bluetooth, 6LoWPan, and ZigBee may encompass all past, current, and future versions of the wireless protocols. For Wi-Fi, PLC, and Ethernet, communication may be established through a communication gateway 239 such as a router/PLC/modem. Using a PCCC control web portal or a PCCC control app (PCCC dashboard application), the mobile device 235 may be used to communicate with the PCCC 205 through the communication gateway 239. Additionally, the communication gateway 239 may be connected to the Internet 241, thus making it possible for at least one of the remote servers 237 and the mobile device 235, using a PCCC control web portal or a PCCC control app, to communicate with the PCCC 205. Using the Bluetooth radio of the communication port 221, the mobile device 235 may also be capable of communicating with the PCCC 205 through the communication port 221. The powernet control communication cubes 205 may also communicate with each other through the communication port 221 using the Bluetooth radio, 6LoWPan radio, and/or ZigBee radio. The powernet control communication cubes 205 which are connected to the PLC may be nodes which in turn may be in communication with the powernet control communication cubes 205 which may not be connected to the PLC. Each PCCC node may be capable of identifying the powernet control communication cubes 205 which may be connected to it. This network of powernet control communication cubes 205 connected to PCCC nodes which are connected via PLC may be referred to as a powernet. Lastly, the GPS module 229 may provide location data for the PCCC 205 and may allow for the traceability of the PCCC 205 in event of its theft.

In embodiments, the RFID module 231 and Bluetooth module 233 of the PCCC 205 may be used to establish a beacon. The RFID module 231 may be used to monitor the space around the lighting fixture or device for any RFID transmitters. In a hospital setting, the RFID transmitters may be mounted onto tables, drug carts, wheel chairs, etc. The PCCC 205 may then be able to keep track of the RFID transmitters in the vicinity of the lighting fixture. The Bluetooth module 233 may be used to continuously ping the area around the lighting fixture for any nearby Bluetooth enabled devices. The vast majority of phones and devices since 2006 will respond to this pinging, thus enabling the PCCC 205 to map and monitor the number of people that are carrying Bluetooth phones and devices that may be in the vicinity of the lighting fixture. The processing of the RFID and Bluetooth monitoring may be handled locally by the at least one processor 211 of the PCCC 205. By having this map of people and things, if a patient is looking for a particular facility within the hospital, the path of least resistance (i.e. least congestion) for the patient to get to the particular facility may be determined from the data collected from RFID monitoring and Bluetooth pinging. This path may be transmitted to the patient who is running the hospital's mobile application on a Bluetooth enabled phone. In embodiments, the Bluetooth 233 may be used to transmit offers, promotions, or other information to an individual with a Bluetooth enabled phone running a particular store or promotion mobile application. In such a scenario, if a customer is shopping at a grocery store and is running a store's mobile application on a Bluetooth enabled phone and the customer approaches the soft drink aisle, the PCCC 205 may be able to determine that the customer is in the soft drink aisle and may be able to present the customer offers and promotions for products that are also in the soft drink aisle. The PCCC 205 may present offers for products that are available since the PCCC 205 uses its RFID module 231 to detect for products labeled with RFID tags.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for monitoring, controlling, and communicating in accordance with embodiments.

In embodiments, apparatus 300 may comprise at least one powernet control communication cube 305. The powernet control communication cube (PCCC) 305 may comprise a housing 307, a system bus 309, at least one processor 311, system memory 313, at least one non-transitory memory unit 315, a power port 317, an internal battery 319, a communication port 321, at least one control port 323, and at least one control clamp 325, all of which may be directly or indirectly coupled to each other.

In embodiments, the PCCC 305 may be mounted within a lighting fixture or on the back of a flat electrical strike plate and may be powered by the internal battery 319 or by using one of the control clamps 325 coupled to the power port 317 to tap into a power line. Alternatively, the power port 317 may draw its power internally from one of the control clamps 325 connected to the control port 323. The communication port 321 may comprise at least one of a Wi-Fi radio, a PLC bridge, an Ethernet port, ZigBee radio, 6LoWPan radio, and a Bluetooth radio and may allow for the communication between powernet control communication cubes 305 and external control and monitoring devices such as at least one of a mobile device 327 and a remote server 329. Bluetooth, 6LoWPan, and ZigBee may encompass all past, current, and future versions of the wireless protocols. For Wi-Fi, PLC, and Ethernet, communication may be established through a communication gateway 331 such as a router/PLC/modem. Using a PCCC control web portal or a PCCC control app (PCCC dashboard application), the mobile device 327 may be used to communicate with the PCCC 305 through the communication gateway 331. Additionally, the communication gateway 331 may be connected to the Internet 333, thus making it possible for at least one of the remote servers 329 and the mobile device 327, using a PCCC control web portal or a PCCC control app, to communicate with the PCCC 305. Using the Bluetooth radio of the communication port 321, the mobile device 327 may also be capable of communicating with the PCCC 305 through the communication port 321. The powernet control communication cubes 305 may also communicate with each other through the communication port 321 using the Bluetooth radio, 6LoWPan radio, and/or ZigBee radio. The powernet control communication cubes 305 which may be connected to the PLC may be nodes which in turn may be in communication with the powernet control communication cubes which are not connected to the PLC. Each PCCC node may be capable of identifying the powernet control communication cubes 305 which may be connected to it. This network of powernet control communication cubes 305 connected to PCCC nodes which are connected via PLC may be referred to as a powernet.

In embodiments, the PCCC 305 may be used to control a single lamp, a single fixture, and/or a series of fixtures. For such an embodiment, the PCCC 305 may be mounted within the lighting fixture and may be powered by the internal battery 319 or by one of the at least one control clamp 325 spliced into the power line to the lighting fixture. The control clamp 325 may be designed to splice the power line to a lighting fixture without having to shut down power to the lighting fixture or device. After splicing the power line, direct power to the lighting fixture may be removed and the PCCC 305 may now be capable of controlling the lighting fixture, thus enabling control for dimming, color, and other primary and secondary functions such as, but not limited to Li-Fi management and emergency controls. Since the control clamp is tapped into the power line, the control clamp may also be able to provide power to the PCCC 305 through the power port 317. This embodiment was similarly disclosed in FIG. 2 , except that in this embodiment, the components not required for controlling a lighting system, (the at least one monitor sensor, the GPS, the RFID, and Bluetooth) have been eliminated.

In embodiments, the components for communication through the communication gateway may be separated from the components for communication between the powernet control communication cubes 305. In such an embodiment, the powernet control unit may comprise at least one of the Wi-Fi radio, the Ethernet port, and the power line communication (PLC) bridge and the communication cube 305 may comprise at least one of a Bluetooth radio, 6LoWPan radio, and ZigBee radio, as was similarly disclosed in FIG. 1 , except that in this embodiment, the components not required for controlling a lighting system (the at least one monitor sensor, the GPS, the RFID, and Bluetooth) have been eliminated.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a method for monitoring, controlling, and communicating of devices in accordance with embodiments.

In embodiments, PCU code and CC code may be stored on the at least one PCU non-transitory memory unit and the at least one CC non-transitory memory unit, respectively, and executed by the at least one PCU processor and by the at least one CC processor, respectively, to perform a method 400 for monitoring, controlling, and communicating of devices. The method 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 may be performed by the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 . Processing may begin in method 400 at block 405, wherein at least one control clamp may be spliced to the power lines of at least one device.

At block 410, a PCU power line communication link may be established for communication between at least one powernet control unit in embodiments.

At block 415, a powernet control unit may be connected to a communication gateway in order to enable communication with the powernet control unit from a mobile device, local server, or remote server using a PCU/CC dashboard application in embodiments.

At block 420, the PCU inter-PCU/CC wireless modules and the CC inter-PCU/CC wireless modules may be used to communicate between the at least one powernet control unit and the at least one communication cube in embodiments.

At block 425, the CC inter-PCU/CC wireless modules may be used to communicate between the at least one communication cubes in embodiments.

At block 430, the PCU power line communication link may be used to communicate with the at least one powernet control unit in embodiments.

At block 435, the at least one communication cube with the spliced at least one control clamp may be used to monitor and control the at least one device in embodiments.

At block 440, the RFID modules and the Bluetooth modules of the at least one communication cube may be used to create at least one RFID/Bluetooth beacon in embodiments.

At block 445, the at least one monitor sensor of the at least one communication cube may be monitored in embodiments. The at least one monitor sensor may be used to monitor for occupancy in the area of the device as well as the device location and status. Processing may subsequently end after block 445 in embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a method for monitoring, controlling, and communicating of devices in accordance with embodiments.

In embodiments, PCCC code may be stored on the at least one non-transitory memory unit and may be executed by the at least one processor to perform a method 500 for monitoring, controlling, and communication of devices. The method 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 may be performed by the apparatuses illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 . Processing may begin in method 500 at block 505, wherein at least one control clamp may be spliced to the power lines of at least one device.

At block 510, a power line communication link may be established for communication between at least one powernet control communication cube in embodiments.

At block 515, a PCCC may be connected to a communication gateway in order to enable communication with the PCCC from a mobile device and/or remote server using a PCCC dashboard application in embodiments.

At block 520, the communication port may be used to communicate between the at least one powernet control communication cube in embodiments.

At block 525, the power line communication link may be used to communicate between the at least one powernet control communication cube in embodiments.

At block 530, the at least one powernet control communication cube with the spliced at least one control clamp may be used to monitor and control the at least one device in embodiments.

At block 535, the RFID modules and the Bluetooth modules of the at least one powernet control communication cube may be used to create at least one RFID/Bluetooth beacon in embodiments.

At block 540, the at least one monitor sensor of the at least one powernet control communication cube may be monitored. The at least one monitor sensor may be used to monitor for occupancy in the area of the device as well as the device location and status. Processing may subsequently end after block 540 in embodiments.

Embodiments described herein relate to a computer storage product with at least one non-transitory memory unit having instructions or computer code thereon for performing various computer-implemented operations. The at least one memory unit are non-transitory in the sense that they do not include transitory propagating signals per se (e.g., a propagating electromagnetic wave carrying information on a transmission medium such as space or a cable). The at least one memory unit and computer code (also can be referred to as code) may be those designed and constructed for the specific purpose or purposes. Examples of at least one memory unit include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical storage media such as Compact Disc/Digital Video Discs (CD/DVDs), Compact Disc-Read Only Memories (CD-ROMs), and holographic devices; magneto-optical storage media such as optical disks; carrier wave signal processing modules; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and execute program code, such as Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Read-Only Memory (ROM), and Random-Access Memory (RAM) devices, ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM).

Examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, micro-code or micro-instructions, machine instructions, such as produced by a compiler, code used to produce a web service, and files containing higher-level instructions that are executed by a computer using an interpreter. For example, embodiments may be implemented using Java, C++, Python, C, or other programming languages (e.g., object-oriented programming languages) and development tools. Additional examples of computer code include, but are not limited to, control signals, encrypted code, database code, and compressed code.

As discussed, a single multifunction communications cube (MCC) may have multiple means or subsystems for receiving and transmitting digital information. It will be understood that a multifunction communication cube (MCC) may include all, or a subset, of the same or similar components, features, and functionality of apparatus 100, apparatus 200, and apparatus 300 described in detail elsewhere in this application. The MCC may use its communications subsystems or inputs (Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, PCL, Ethernet, etc.) to generate a “digital impression” or “digital profile” including digital impression information of the devices in its environment. The digital impression may contain essentially all, or a subset of, signal information across all of the CC's detection means for each and every device that the MCC can detect. The digital impression information collected about different devices in the environment of the MCC may differ in relation to signal information available and collected by the CC. The MCC may monitor all of the inputs simultaneously, or in any suitable order to generate such a digital impression. Monitoring of inputs by the MCC may include monitoring all or a subset of communications subsystems of the CC. This digital impression may be limited only by the inherent limitations of the different input methodologies or input subsystems of the CC. In an embodiment, for example, the CC's ability to monitor devices via its PLC inputs may be limited to devices connected to an electrical circuit accessible to the CC, while the devices observable via the CC's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi inputs may be limited to the communication reception ranges determined by each device's Bluetooth antenna range and Wi-Fi antenna range. The signal information from all inputs available to the MCC may be aggregated to generate the digital impression. Multiple CCs with overlapping sensor ranges may have separate digital impressions that contain devices that overlap, or alternatively, may be aggregated together to create a single, more thorough, or complete digital impression of the devices around the plurality of networked CCs. In an embodiment, for example, a first MCC and second MCC in communication, directly or indirectly via other intermediate CC's relaying communications information between the first MCC and second CC, may have combined, coordinated, or cooperative capability to identify, monitor, and interact with devices via PLC inputs connected to any electrical circuit accessible or connected to either the first MCC and the second CC, and further may have combined, coordinated or cooperative capability to identify, monitor and interact with the same or other devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi inputs within wireless communication range of both the first MCC and second CC. In such an embodiment, for example, digital impressions of each of a plurality of devices may include digital impression information obtained via PLC inputs, Bluetooth inputs, and Wi-Fi inputs, of each and every device observable, directly or indirectly, by the first MCC and second CC.

In an exemplary scenario, if a MCC is installed into a powerline circuit in a room with a Wi-Fi enabled smart TV that is connected to the same powerline circuit as the CC, a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled cell phone sitting by itself on a desk in the next room over, and a ZigBee enabled smoke detector connected to a separate powerline circuit in the hall between the two rooms, the MCC may receive both a PLC signal and a Wi-Fi signal from the TV, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals from the cell phone, and a ZigBee signal from the smoke detector. The digital impression generated by the MCC would comprise all of these signals together.

The CC's onboard processor may aggregate this sensor data in order to generate the digital impression of the CC's environment. The MCC may then use its processor and information contained on its onboard memory to identify digital signatures of the different devices constituting the digital impression. If the digital impression cannot be disambiguated to determine the unique signatures identifying the constituent devices, the MCC may use one or more of its communications pathways to transmit the digital impression to a remote server, which may have access to more data and processing capabilities than the CC's onboard hardware in order to disambiguate the digital impression and determine what devices are being sensed by the CC. Once the digital impression has been disambiguated and the unique devices sensed by the MCC are identified that information along with control information for those devices may be communicated from the remote server back to the MCC through a suitable communication network. The unique device information may comprise information such as the make and model of the device, and may further comprise control information including, but not limited to control signals compatible with the identified device through one or more communications means, and a hierarchy of what communications means are preferred for controlling said device. Whether or not the MCC can determine the devices constituting the digital impression through onboard processing versus offboard processing at a remote server may be a question of the CC's form factor and current hardware limitations.

Once the MCC has either determined the identity of the devices that it sensed in its digital impression, or has received such information from the remote server, the MCC may then use any of the output methods available to it to communicate with and control the unique devices whose signals were include in the CC's digital impression. The determination of what communication means should be used to control which unique device may be associated with the information used to identify of the unique devices, and may be determined when the unique devices are identified. This control and control preference information may be stored either on the CC's or on the remote server's memory. This selection of the means by which to control the devices may be limited to the manner in which the MCC can communicate with that particular device (it would not be helpful for the MCC to try to control a Wi-Fi enabled TV via Wi-Fi if either the MCC does not possess Wi-Fi functionality, or if the MCC is in only powerline communication with the TV).

Continuing with the example provided above, once the MCC has formed a digital impression of its environment, including the PLC signature of the TV, the Wi-Fi signatures of the TV and the smartphone, the Bluetooth signature of the smartphone, and the ZigBee signature of the smoke detector, it may transmit this impression to a remote server, and receive back from the server information indicating the three devices and their control preferences. The stored device information indicates that the TV may be controlled via PLC, infra-red (IR), and Wi-Fi, but prefers to be controlled via IR or Wi-Fi; the smartphone prefers to be controlled by Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi; and the smoke detector can be controlled by PLC or ZigBee and has no preference on which is better. In such a case, the MCC would control the TV via Wi-Fi as it is preferred over PLC and the MCC does not possess IR; the smartphone via Bluetooth as it is preferred over PLC; and the smoke detector via ZigBee as it is the only connection that the MCC has to that device.

In embodiments, the MCC may be limited to having fewer than all of the possible input and communications means. For example, one MCC may be configured for Ethernet and PLC communication only, while another MCC may be configured for Ethernet and Bluetooth communication only, while yet another MCC may be configured for wireless, Bluetooth, and PLC communication. Any permutation or combination of communication means may be provided for on any specific MCC without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Embodiments without the capability of at least one communications means may be termed a “limited CC”. Multiple differently limited CCs, for example one that is limited to Bluetooth and PLC, and one limited to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, may communicate together via their shared communication protocol. In such an example the Bluetooth and PLC limited MCC may relay its digital impression to a remote server by using its shared communication protocol (in this case Bluetooth) to relay information to the other CC, which may then transmit both its digital impression and the digital impression received from the other limited MCC to the remote server via Wi-Fi.

In embodiments, a single MCC may be configured to use any and all suitable communications means.

Multiple CCs may be networked together via suitable communications networks. Multiple CCs in a particular physical location may be considered a “node”. Multiple nodes may be connected together to form a network or MCC network. In embodiments, a single node may constitute a network or MCC network.

The CCs in a node may transmit and receive communications with one another in order to determine which of the CCs has the strongest connection to a communication network capable of transmitting information to a target device external to the node. The other CCs of the node may then relay information to the target device through the MCC with said strongest connection. The MCC through which the node's information is relayed may update in the event that the connection strength changes. This may allow all of the CCs in the node to be able to communication with the remote target device even if any particular MCC cannot directly communicate with said remote device. Furthermore, this relaying of information between networked CCs does not have to be direct, and may be indirect. For example, a first MCC may transmit information to a second CC, which may in turn transmit the information from the first MCC to a third CC, that may then transmit the information from the first MCC to a remote device. This ability to relay information through a series of networked CCs may also provide for a “gap jumping” ability, where an MCC that is not capable of transmitting directly to a remote device may relay information through one or a series of connected CCs until one of them is able to establish a connection to the remote device.

This relaying of information between networked CCs does not have to be direct, and may be indirect. In embodiments, a plurality of CCs constituting a node may be connected together in a mesh network configuration. Such a mesh network of CCs, for example, may relay information using either a flooding technique or a routing technique. To ensure all its paths' availability, the network may allow for continuous connections and should be able to reconfigure itself around broken paths, using self-healing algorithms. Self-healing allows a routing-based network to operate when a node breaks down or when a connection becomes unreliable. Utilizing such a mesh network configuration, a first MCC may transmit information to a second CC, which may in turn transmit the information from the first MCC to a third CC, that may then transmit the information from the first MCC to a remote device. This ability to relay information through a series of networked CCs may also provide for a “gap jumping” ability, where an MCC that is not capable of transmitting directly to a remote device may relay information through one or a series of connected CCs until one of them is able to establish a connection to the remote device.

In an embodiment, a plurality of CCs may cooperate to identify and share digital impression information regarding network routers and network security devices, such as network security packet sniffers, of a secured network for evading detection by the secured network routers and network security devices while identifying, monitoring, interacting with, and controlling devices on the secured network. The plurality of CCs may establish and communicate over a separate mesh communications network, or over any other network accessible to the plurality of CCs. In embodiments, where the plurality of CCs may have developed and shared, or may have received from a remote server, digital impression information regarding network routers and network security devices at an established or acceptable confidence level, one or more of the plurality of CCs may communicate over a separate mesh network established between the plurality of CCs, and/or may communicate over the secured network according to protocols that are unidentifiable or undetectable by the secured network routers and network security devices so as to remain “dark” and undetected. In embodiments, one or more of the plurality of CCs may also communicate over the secured network according to protocols that are compatible, identifiable, or detectable by the secured network routers and network security devices so as to spoof or simulate other devices known to be on the network, or that might belong on the network, to misinform the secured network routers and network security devices regarding the security or unsecured status of the secured network, and/or also to misinform network security devices regarding operations and operating status of devices identifiable, or known, by the CCs. It will be understood that the term “devices” may include firmware and software associated with hardware devices or nodes.

In embodiments, CCs may automatically assign themselves identifiers. Automatic identification of the CCs may be performed, for example, in accordance with a 6LoWPan protocol. A plurality of networked CCs may automatically share digital impression information for devices detectable by, or known to, any of the plurality of CCs, and automatically share instructions for monitoring, interacting with, and controlling such devices.

In an embodiment utilizing PLC monitoring and control of a device, the MCC may monitor the power line signals going through the circuit into which it is spliced. The MCC may also monitor wireless signals through a signal array including but not limited to WIFI, Bluetooth, RFID, ZigBee, and Specific Application Frequencies. The monitoring may be performed by the processor portion of the CC. The power line signals comprise waveforms that correspond to each of the electric devices on the circuit. Similarly, wireless devices can be identified by their respective MAC and IP address. A problem is presented that, because these signals are all running through the same power line, or through the same space in the instance of wireless signals, and into the same MCC device, the signals may become jumbled together or conflated, creating “signal noise”. This signal noise on the PLC input to the MCC is a constituent part of the inputs that the MCC aggregates together to generate the digital impression. These individual signals within the digital impression and the signal noise must be disambiguated in order to identify the unique signals that are indicative of each unique device on the circuit. Signal strength and range are determined by a number of factors including but not limited to: whether there are physical barriers in between the transmitting and receiving devices, whether there is competing signal traffic, the relative strength of the signal being transmitted, the type of signal being transmitted, and the frequency the signal is being transmitted on.

In some embodiments, to disambiguate the unique device waveforms from signal noise of the PLC circuit, as well as the other signals picked up by the other input means or subsystems possessed by the MCC which constitute the digital impression, it is necessary to possess or access a database of signal waveforms and other unique device signatures and their associated devices. Such a database may comprise millions of unique signals each identifying a unique electrical device. For this reason, it may be impractical to maintain this database on the memory of an MCC itself. Instead a remote device, such as a remote server, may be used to store the unique signal information and to do or perform the processing of the data needed to identify and disambiguate the constituent unique signals that comprise the signal noise or conflated signals. To provide the signal noise information from the MCC to the remote server, the MCC may record a portion of the single noise and transmit it, via suitable network connection, to the server. The server may run an algorithm to analyze the segment of signal noise received from the MCC to differentiate the individual signals from the signal noise. Once the individual signals have been identified, the server can match them to signals from the database of unique signals and identify their respective electrical devices. In an embodiment, an MCC or remote server may process signal noise or conflated signals to eliminate, adjust or compensate for signals of identified devices in the jumbled signal noise or conflated signals, and thus simplify or reduce processing steps and time required to identify remaining devices from their characteristic signals remaining in the adjusted or compensated signal noise or conflated signals.

Once the devices associated with the disambiguated signals have been identified by the server, the server can then transmit the identity of the electrical devices associated with the portion of signal noise transmitted to it back to the CC. Once the MCC has received the identity of the devices on its circuit from the server, it may then use signal commands for the associated devices to control the devices on its circuit. Unlike the unique signal identification information stored on the server, which can comprise massive amounts of information, signal commands may be compatible between related types of electronic devices and therefore require significantly smaller amounts of memory to store. Therefore, in some embodiments, the database of signal commands may be stored locally in the MCC in a local memory. Once the MCC has determined or received signal commands associated with the electric devices on its' circuit, the MCC can then use its processor to transmit waveforms corresponding to the signal commands associated with a particular device to control certain known characteristics of the particular device's operation.

In embodiments, the manner in which the MCC may be able to control the devices on its circuit vary depending on the device. For power modulation where there may no digital management capability, for example, for incandescent light bulb or older TVs, the only options will be off/on dim up/dim down. Those “commands” are managed through increasing or decreasing the voltage and/or current being transmitted to the device being controlled through the powerline. The MCC may effectuate such a modulation of voltage and/or current through the use of a series of circuits, or through a series of resistors/transistors if analog. For other devices, which may be controlled wirelessly, the MCC may provide control signals to the device through a suitable wireless communication means (e.g. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IR, etc.) rather than through modulation of the waveform of the power line into which the device is connected. For example, The MCC may identify a smart TV through the power line and identify it as a TV, and may then implement a control profile identified as usable via Wi-Fi or IR. The preference of control methodology for the specific device may associated with the unique device once it is identified. The preferred control means may be limited by the communications capabilities of the MCC that is trying to control the device.

Generally, not all electrical circuits in a building are connected. Even circuits within the same breaker panel are often not directly connected. Whether it is for meeting code requirements, load limit restrictions, security, redundancy, reduction of single point failure, or convenience, multiple distinct electrical circuits are used. Addressing these hurdles when implementing a network is an additional advantage of the MCC over current technologies. Multiple CC's can be networked together to create a mesh network spanning large open areas. Multiple CC's can also be connected to communicate along that circuit over great distances and through physical barriers like floors, walls, and ceilings. These CCs may be able to communicate with one another through alternate compatible communications means or subsystems if one such means of communication is not available. For example, if two CCs both have Wi-Fi functionality and are within Wi-Fi range of one another, but are not connected to the same powerline circuit, the two CC's may communicate through the Wi-Fi network (or indirectly through the MCC mesh network) rather than communicating via PLC. Since all CC's in proximity are able to communicate as programmed (meeting designated network security requirements), either wirelessly, wired, or both, a network of CC's can “jump” significant distances between electrical circuits, through physical barriers like floors and walls where wireless signals would not otherwise penetrate via powerline, or through electromagnetic barriers, via a wireless and/or wired mesh network. It will be understood that electromagnetic barriers may include, for example, a Faraday cage electromagnetic barrier.

As shown in FIGS. 11-13 , a multifunction communication cube (MCC) may be connected or spliced into an electrical circuit without interrupting the downstream power flow of the circuit through use of a specially designed clamp. Referring to FIG. 11 , clamp 1100 may be an insulated tube 1105 that has a single, non-conductive (glass, ceramic, etc.) blade 1110. In some embodiments, clamp 1100 may include a conductive blade 1115 that may be narrower at the top than at the bottom, and made of a conductive material (copper at minimum) and a contact pad 1130 connected to the top of the conductive blade via solder, wire etc. The contact pad 1130 allows for current to flow from the inside of the insulated tube 1105 to the outside of the insulated tube 1105. The contact pads 1130 have a wire connector 1125 that may transfer power from the insulated tube 1105 to an external device (not shown). It will be understood that this design accommodates a single wire 1120 conductor. FIG. 12 illustrates clamp 1200 in an alternative embodiment for tapping a single wire 1120 conductor. Clamp 1200 may accommodate one wire and may include two conductive blades 1115, positioned on opposite sides of the non-conductive blade 1110. Each of the two conductive blades 1115 may be attached to exiting wires 1125, and 1210, which may carry signals from each end of the severed wire 1120. In embodiments, such a clamp may splice the MCC into a conductor of a circuit while simultaneously transmitting current to devices on the circuit downstream of the CC.

To facilitate this non-interrupting splicing the power line wire may be laid inside of the insulated tube 1105. Once the wire 1120 is inside of the insulated tube 1105, the insulated tube 1105 is closed driving the non-conductive blade 1110 through the wire 1120 severing the connection between the upstream power source (upstream) and downstream powered device (downstream), and driving the conductive blades 1115 on either side of the non-conductive blade 1110 through the wire's insulation, causing the conductive blades 1115 to make electrical contact with the wire 1120 simultaneously. Contact being made with the wire 1120 and severing said wire 1120 will cause power to redirect through the conductive blades 1115. Power re-directed to the pads may be transferred from the pads on the outside of the tube to a wiring harness. This allows power to be diverted through the wire harness from the upstream side of the conductive blades to an external device (in this instance to CC). Once the MCC and clamp are connected to the power line, the power signal is processed, analyzed, manipulated etc. in the CC. Power may then be transmitted from the MCC through the clamp, through the wire harness connected to the downstream side and through the contact pad. Additionally, the MCC may provide signals via the power line by passing power signals and/or additional signals from the MCC through the contact pads to the conductive blades. The signals are then passed from the conductive blade to the downstream section of the wire in contact therewith. The power signals then pass along the wire to the device being powered, thus completing a single leg of the circuit. In the instance of a single wire clamp the process needs to be repeated for other the leg of the circuit.

Referring to FIG. 13 , for a double-wire embodiment, in which the clamp 1300 allows for splicing into a circuit having a positive and a negative wire, the tube 1105 is designed to have two channels 1315, 1320. Each of the two wires 1325, 1120 are laid inside of the tube 1105, one wire in each channel. The tube 1105 is closed driving the nonconductive blade 1110 through each of the wires 1120, 1325 severing their connection between the upstream power source (upstream) and downstream powered device (downstream), and driving the conductive blades 1115 on either side of the non-conductive blade 1110 through the wire's insulation causing the conductive blades 1115 to make electrical contact with the conductor of each wire 1120, 1325 simultaneously. The tube 1105 closing will drive the conductive blades 1115 through the insulation around the respective wires 1120, 1325 in each channel 1315, 1320 until the conductive blades 1115 make contact with the conductive portions of the wires 1120, 1325. Contact being made with the wire 1120, 1325 and severing the wire 1325, 1120 will cause power to redirect through the conductive blades 1115. It is important to note that there should be a separate set of conductive blades for each wire into which the clamp is being used to splice. The separate sets of conductive blades allow for re-direction of the signals from each wire through the associated set of conductive blades without shorting out any connection. Power re-directed to the pads may be transferred from the pads on the outside of the tube to output wires 1125, 1210, 1330, 1335. This allows power to be diverted through the wire harness from the upstream side of the conductive blades to an external device (in this instance to CC). Once the MCC and clamp is connected to the power line power is processed, analyzed, manipulated etc. in the CC. Power may then be transmitted from the MCC through the clamp, through the wire harness connected to the downstream side and through the contact pad. Additionally, the MCC may provide signals via the power line by passing power/signals from the MCC through the contact pads to the conductive blades. The signals are then passed from the conductive blade to the downstream section of the wire they are making contact with. The power then passes along the wire to the device being powered, thus completing a single leg of the circuit. In the instance of a single wire clamp the process needs to be repeated for other the leg of the circuit. In the instance of a double wire clamp the process is closed due to both positive and negative wire running through the same clamp.

In embodiments, the clamp may be configured for any number of wires. For such embodiments, the clamp may comprise a number of wire channels equal to the number of wires into which the clamp is to splice. The clamp should additionally comprise a separate set of conductive blades for severing and re-directing the signal from each wire. The conductive blades should be separated such that no short circuiting of any of the wires occurs due to electrical contact between one conductive blade and multiple wires. A single non-conductive blade may be used to sever any number of wires as it is non-conductive and thus will not cause any short circuiting.

In embodiments, the conductive blades may comprise a V-shape.

Referring to FIG. 6 , in an embodiment disclosed subject matter includes method 600 for identification, communication, monitoring, and control of electronic devices connected to a circuit. Method 600 may include connecting 605 a multifunction communication cube (CC) to the circuit. It will be understood that the multifunction communication cube (CC) may have a construction, features and functionality as described elsewhere in this application. A subject circuit may be, for example, an electrical circuit of a building to provide power to electronic devices, or any other suitable circuit. The MCC may be connected to at least one conductor of the subject circuit via a clamp as described hereinabove, or may be otherwise connected or installed in conductive relationship with at least one conductor or wire of the subject circuit. Method 600 may include recording 610 signal noise from the circuit by the multifunction communication cube (CC) to provide recorded signal noise. Method 600 may include transmitting 615 the recorded signal noise to a remote device, such as a remote server, via a connection to an external communications network. It will be understood that, for example, the remote server may be accessed over the Internet. Method 600 may include determining 620 constituent unique device waveforms in the recorded signal noise, by the remote device or server, such as by a processor of the remote server comparing the recorded signal noise with samples of known unique device waveforms of known devices from a database. It will be understood that one suitable database of known devices and device waveforms may be, for example, the MIT Project Dilon signal fingerprint database. Method 600 may include identifying 625 devices connected to the subject circuit by identifying unique device waveforms of known devices that produce same from the database, by the remote server. Method 600 may include transmitting 630 identifications of devices to the communications cube (CC) from the remote server over a suitable communications network. Method 600 may include associating 635 command signals with each identified device connected to the subject circuit by a processor of the communications cube (CC). It will be understood that command signals of devices may be obtained from local memory of the communications cube (CC). Method 600 may include generating 640 command signals associated with identified devices by the processor of the communications cube (CC) on the subject circuit, to interact with and control aspects of such identified devices. It will be understood that, in an embodiment, command signals may also be communicated to identified devices over an output other than the subject circuit, such as over a wireless connection to an identified device, via a suitable wireless subsystem of the communications cube (CC). It will be understood that method 600 may be performed by any suitable system such as, for example, system 900 shown in FIG. 9 .

Referring to FIG. 7 , in an embodiment disclosed subject matter includes method 700 for identification, communication, monitoring, and control of electronic devices at a site. Method 700 may include installing 705 a multifunction communication cube (CC) at the site. It will be understood that each multifunction communication cube (CC) may have a construction, features and functionality as described elsewhere in this application. A site may include, for example, at least one subject wired circuit, at least one subject wireless communication channel, or both, connected to at least one subject electronic device. A subject circuit may be, for example, an electrical circuit of a building to provide power to electronic devices, or any other suitable circuit such as a wired Ethernet connection of such a building. The MCC may be connected to at least one conductor of the subject circuit via a clamp as described hereinabove, or may be otherwise connected or installed in conductive relationship with at least one conductor or wire of the subject circuit. A subject wireless communication channel may be, for example, a ZigBee, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless communication channel or infrastructure associated with the building or structure at the site, associated with a network at the site, or associated with subject wireless electronic devices present at the site. Method 700 may include pinging 710 over all available inputs of the MCC to respective subject circuits and subject wireless communications channels. Method 700 may include receiving 715 device signal information, signal noise, and/or conflated device signals via available inputs of the MCC from the respective subject circuits and subject wireless communications channels. Method 700 may include aggregating 720 by the MCC device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals recorded from each of the inputs of the CC, to generate an aggregated digital impression or multidimensional digital impression information including recorded signal noise and recorded wireless communications information. Method 700 may include MCC disambiguation determining or analyzing 725 constituent unique device waveforms in recorded device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals, by a local processor of the MCC comparing the recorded device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals with samples of known unique device waveforms of known devices and/or devices previously or contemporaneously identified at the site, which are stored in MCC memory and/or stored in a local database of the MCC or any MCC in communication with the subject MCC at the site. Method 700 may include local identifying 735 of devices from the aggregated digital impression information by the CC. Method 700 may include transmitting 740 aggregated digital impression information from the MCC to a remote device, such as a remote server, via a connection to an external communications network. It will be understood that, for example, the remote server may be accessed over the Internet. Method 700 may include remote disambiguation determining or analyzing 745 aggregated digital impression or multidimensional digital impression information including recorded signal noise and recorded wireless communications information to identify constituent unique device waveforms in recorded device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals, and to identify constituent device wireless communications properties or wireless constituent device identification information, by a remote processor of the remote server comparing the recorded device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals with samples of known unique device waveforms of known devices and/or devices previously or contemporaneously identified at the site, and comparing recorded wireless communications information with known wireless communications information or properties of known devices or device types to identify constituent device wireless communications properties or wireless constituent device unique identification information, which are stored in memory associated with the remote server and/or stored in a remote database. It will be understood that one suitable database of known devices and device waveforms and identification information may be, for example, the MIT Project Dilon signal fingerprint database. Analyzing 745 may include identifying devices connected to a subject circuit or capable of communicating over a subject wireless communication channel or wireless infrastructure at the site, by identifying unique device waveforms of known devices that produce same, or identifying device wireless communications information or properties of known device, from the database, by the remote server. Method 700 may include transmitting 750 identifications of devices to the communications cube (CC) from the remote server over a suitable communications network. Method 700 may include associating 755 device control pathways, such as command signals, with each identified device connected to a subject circuit connected to the MCC or visible over a wireless communications connection or channel to the CC, by a processor of the communications cube (CC). It will be understood that command signals of devices may be obtained from local memory of the communications cube (CC). Method 700 may include generating or transmitting 760 command signals or control associated with identified devices by the processor of the communications cube (CC) on the subject circuit, and/or over a wireless communications connection or channel, to interact with and control aspects of such identified devices. It will be understood that, in some embodiments, command signals or control signals may be communicated to such identified devices over a wireless connection to an identified device, via a suitable wireless subsystem of the communications cube (CC). It will be understood that method 700 may be performed by any suitable system such as, for example, system 900 shown in FIG. 9 .

Referring to FIG. 8 , in an embodiment disclosed subject matter includes method 800 for identification, communication, monitoring, and control of electronic devices at a site or node. Method 800 may include installing 805 a plurality of multifunction communication cubes (CC's) at the site or node. It will be understood that each multifunction communication cube (CC) may have a construction, features and functionality as described elsewhere in this application. A site may include, for example, at least one subject wired circuit, at least one subject wireless communication channel, or both, connected to at least one subject electronic device. Method 800 may include self-identifying 810 by each MCC via a self-identification protocol. A suitable self-identification protocol may be embodied in processor accessible code, such as software code. In an embodiment, a suitable self-identification protocol is 6LowPan. Method 800 may include pinging 815 by each MCC all sensory inputs, including available communications inputs, to identify all other CC's in the node. Method 800 may include identifying 820 by each MCC signal strength to an external target device such as, for example, a wireless network access point or wireless communications transceiver, for communication to a remote server over an external communications network such as, for example, the Internet. It will be understood that a suitable wireless communications transceiver may include a transceiver of a wireless mobile data network or cellular communications network. Method 800 may include identifying 820 signal strengths from each MCC to an external target device. Method 800 may include determining 825 whether each MCC having a relatively weaker signal strength to an external target device can see and enter into communications with another MCC having relatively strongest signal strength to an external target device. Method 800 may include direct routing 830 of information by all CC's in the node through an MCC identified as having the relatively strongest signal strength to an external target device. Method 800 may include indirect routing 835 of information by any CC's in the node to an intermediary MCC and from the intermediary MCC through an MCC identified as having the relatively strongest signal strength to an external target device. Method 800 may include receiving 840 information by an MCC identified as having the relatively strongest signal strength to an external target device, from other CC's in the node. Method 800 may include transmitting 845 information by the MCC identified as having the relatively strongest signal strength to an external target device, to said external target device. It will be understood that the particular MCC identified as having relatively strongest signal strength to an external target device may change from time to time as conditions at the site change, or as external target devices such as external wireless infrastructure changes. It will be understood that method 800 may be performed by any suitable system such as, for example, system 900 shown in FIG. 9 .

The combination of a mesh network and multiple transmission modes between the nodes of the network (e.g., Wi-Fi, Ethernet, powerline, Bluetooth, etc.) offers opportunities to increase the security of communications within the network.

In a first enhanced security embodiment, security may be increased by randomizing the path of each packet through the network. Such a scheme would reduce the possibility of any packet sniffer located at a particular node or nodes of being able to intercept a significant number of packets in a particular communication session. Random paths and random transmission modes for each packet will make non-encrypted, and especially encrypted, communication extremely difficult to read. Here the term communication session is used to refer as generally as possible to any message or data sent between a source node and a destination node of the network. In an embodiment, rather than sending each packet in a communication session from the source node to the destination node using conventional packet-switched routing techniques, the path between pairs of adjacent nodes in the path is intentionally randomized. The randomization process may include, not only randomizing the node-to-node path through the mesh (or other) network, but also randomizing the transmission mode. For example, a first packet may be transmitted via Wi-Fi, a second packet may be transmitted via Ethernet, a third packet may be transmitted via powerline transmission, a fourth packet may be transmitted via Bluetooth, and so on. Furthermore, any given packet may be transmitted via one communication mode between the two nodes of a given hop, and via another communication mode between the two nodes of another hop.

The splitting of packets within a data stream amongst different transmission modes greatly increases security as it would require packet sniffers or other packet intercept technologies across multiple transmission modes to even intercept the packets. In addition, it adds a third dimension of pathway possibilities beyond the two-dimensional nature of a mesh network, thereby increasing the potential number of paths through the network, and thus the randomness of the pathway by potentially an order of magnitude or more.

This concept may be implemented for every node in the network and for every packet transmitted in the network. However, it also is conceivable that the randomization technique is applied to only a subset of packets in the network or a subset of packets in a single communication session. It is also conceivable that the randomization process is performed at a subset of the nodes in the network, rather than all of them.

In an embodiment, each node of the network (or any subset thereof) may include a random number generator (RNG) that is used to select a path out of the node to a next node in the pathway to the destination node. This process may be as simple as assigning an index to each possible pathway out of the node (here, the term pathway comprising both a next node and a transmission mode, i.e., a different index for each combination of a next node and a transmission mode). If the network is extremely large such that a completely random process such as this might cause greater potential delay in the packets eventually reaching their destination nodes than is acceptable for the particular use case, then the randomization process may be modified to emphasize paths that are more direct to the destination node. Other possible embodiments, include (1) randomizing the pathways of only a subset of the packets in a communication session, (2) randomizing the pathway to the next hop at only a subset of the nodes, rather than at every node in the pathway between the source node and the destination node, and/or (3) any combination thereof for any subset of nodes or packets.

In an embodiment, all of the communication cubes in the network may be equipped with a RNG and path randomization technology, while the other types of nodes in the network remain unmodified.

In one embodiment, the RNG for selecting the destination node and transmission node for the next hop toward the data destination may include both a software-based RNG and a hardware-based RNG. In one particular embodiment, a random number is generated using a software-based RNG process, and then that number is further randomized by running it through a hardware-based RNG. Particularly, it is known that many, if not all, software-based RNGs actually have inherent biases in the random number generation process, and thus do not, in fact, generate entirely random numbers. Such biases can be exploited to make it much easier to guess the numbers generated by such RNGs, making it easier to reverse engineer the random number, thereby decreasing security. Hardware-based RNGs tend to produce more random results, e.g., because the numbers that they generate may be at least partially a function of random and/or unpredictable hardware-based factors, such as variations in battery voltage or line voltage and/or electronic noise in the vicinity of the RNG.

In one exemplary embodiment of a hardware enhanced random number generator, a software generated random number may be further randomized by using a sensor measurement, such as received signal strength, as a variable in a hardware-based RNG in order to provide an additional level of randomness. Radio signal strength is continuously variable even for strong signals due to environmental changes. Thus, running a random number through a further randomization algorithm as a function of, e.g., the last received signal strength measurement value can provide an even more random number.

This multiple path randomization process may delay the arrival of the overall data in a communication session and will also likely increase the randomization of the times at which the various packets comprising a communication session arrive at the destination node. However, this delay may be an acceptable consequence of the added security. Also, techniques for correctly reassembling/reordering data in packets that arrive at a destination node out of order are well known and, in fact, are a fundamental aspect of existing packet-switched network protocols.

In a further aspect, data as to the path that a packet took through the network between the source node and the destination node may be included in the packet header. This data may include both the identities of the nodes that the packet passed through (including the order in which it passed through the various nodes) as well as the transmission mode between each pair of adjacent nodes within the pathway. The header information of each packet also should include additional information, such as where the packet belongs within the communication session (i.e., its order in the stream).

In one embodiment, each node of the network has a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address for each different transmission mode by which it can receive a packet (i.e., the MAC address for node A for packets received via Bluetooth communication mode is one value, while the MAC address for that same node for packets received via Ethernet is a different value). Thus, in one simple example, the pathway information may be represented simply by the MAC addresses of the nodes in the pathway listed in the order in which they were traversed.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating one method for randomizing the pathway of a packet through the network. This method may be implemented at any node of the network and is discussed herein assuming that the method is being performed at an intermediate node in a pathway between a source node and a destination node. At 1601, the node receives a packet from a preceding node. At 1603, the node updates the pathway information in the header of the packet in order to add its own information to the pathway information. As noted above, this may comprise adding its unique MAC address (indicative not only of its identity, but also the transmission mode by which it received the packet) to the header, including indication of its order in the pathway. In other embodiments, the packet may arrive with the pathway information for the most recent hop to the present node already in the header (i.e., inserted by the preceding node), in which case the present node would not perform this step, but instead would add the information for the pathway to the next node in the overall pathway at a later stage (discussed below).

Next, at 1605, the node generates a random number, preferably using a software-based RNG followed by a hardware-based RNG as previously described. Then, at 1607, that number is used to randomly select a next hop node, including both an identity of the next node and a transmission mode to that node. At 1609, the node transmits the data to the selected next hop node using the selected transmission mode. If, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, the network protocol is such that each node inserts the pathway information for the next hop into the header, rather than the pathway information for the preceding hop, then that step would be performed between steps 1607 (selecting the next hop pathway information) and step 1609 (actually transmitting the packet on the next hop).

To further increase security, the data within the packets, including the information in the header as well as the payload data, may also be encrypted, e.g., using a public-private key paradigm. However, as noted above, conventional RNGs that may be used to generate such key pairs tend to not be perfectly random.

Thus to further enhance security, in an embodiment, the random path of the packets through the network may be used to generate a random number with no (or at least much less) bias in the random number generation process, and then that random number can be used to generate an extremely random encryption key (from which a public-private key pair may be created). More particularly, in one embodiment, the header information as to the pathway that a packet has traversed in the network (or any portion thereof) may be used to generate an extremely random number. Then, that number can be used as the starting point (i.e., as the random number) from which the key is generated using the chosen key generation algorithm (e.g., the private key of a public-private key pair).

In embodiments, the pathway information in the header of a received packet may be used to generate a random number to use in a key generation algorithm either before or after that node adds its pathway information, e.g., the pathway information for the next hop.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art of electronic encryption that, in its simplest sense, a key is simply a number. For example, in 128-bit public private key encryption, the keys are 128 bit long binary numbers. It further will be understood by persons of skill in telecommunications that the information in the header that discloses the pathway of the packet through the network also is, ultimately, represented by a series of ones and zeros, i.e., a binary number. Thus, in one embodiment, a private key may be generated at any node of the network by taking any portion of the number that represents the pathway of that packet through the network to that node that is found in the header of that packet, and generating its own private encryption key based on that number (or any portion of that number, such as its last 128 bits). Only that node knows that number because that node is the only node that has the full pathway header. That is, the full pathway header does not even exist until the packet reaches that node. In a simple embodiment, the node can use that number (or any portion of that number or, for that matter, any portion of the pathway) as its private encryption key. However, this is not a preferred technique since there are other nodes in the network that know most, if not all of that number, and thus might be able to guess the number more easily than most. For example, the node that immediately preceded the destination node in the overall pathway of that packet through the network would know that number since it is the node that put that number in the header. Thus, in more complex embodiments, that number is not used as the private key per se, but is instead used as the random number that is a variable in a key generation algorithm that will generate a different number that will be used as the key, e.g., the private key of a public-private key pair. In another, even more secure embodiment, the number generated by that key generation algorithm is further run through a hardware-based RNG to generate a further number that will be used as the private key. This hardware-based RNG may have any of the attributes discussed above in connection with the hardware-based RNG for generating the random pathway through the network for a packet, such as using a received signal strength parameter as a variable in the RNG algorithm.

In any event, once the private key is created, the corresponding public key may be calculated from it and shared with other nodes of the network per typical public-private key encryption techniques. And then that key pair can be used for encryption/decryption with that node.

An added layer of security in this scheme is that the private key of the node is generated locally from a random number and not purchased or otherwise obtained from an external source that could have been compromised. Yet another added layer of security is that a RNG may be used at the node to select a random one of the previously received packets and/or a randomly selected portion of the header pathway information to create the key, thus making it nearly impossible to reverse engineer the key because an external interceptor will not know which packet's header (i.e., which pathway), let alone which portion of that packet header was used to create the key.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for generating an encryption key in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. At 1701, the node selects one of the packets that it has previously received via the network, the packet including a header with pathway information. The packet may be selected randomly or may be selected passed on certain criteria. For instance, one criterion may be that the pathway information in the header has a minimum number of bits or hops (e.g., to ensure that the key generation algorithm will generate a key of sufficient length from the pathway information). At 1703, the node inspects the packet header to determine the packet pathway information stored therein and selects a random number based on the pathway information from the header of the selected packet, e.g., using any of the techniques previously mentioned, such as selecting the last 128 bits of the pathway information (or any other number of bits thereof). At 1705, a key generation algorithm generates a private key from the random number. As previously mentioned, in a preferred embodiment, the private key may be generated using a software-based RNG followed by a hardware-based RNG using a semi-random value such as a received signal strength measurement value in the hardware-based RNG.

At 1706, the algorithm determines whether the private key meets the bit requirement for the private key. For example, if it is desired that the keys generated by this process be 128 bits long and the key generation algorithm is formulated such that it needs a certain number of bits in the input number (e.g., the pathway information), then a packet that has only traversed the network a small number of hops may not have a sufficient number of bits to generate a key of sufficient length. Of course, it is possible to formulate key generation algorithms that require very few bits in the input number and or key generation algorithms that assure a result of the desired length regardless of the number of bits in the input number. However, such algorithms may be less secure (i.e., it may be easier to reverse engineer the private key. In any event, if the key generation process did not generate a key of sufficient length (per key requirements by the user), then the node passes the packet on to the next node (1713) without generating a key pair. If the key does meet the bit requirement, then, at 1707, the node generates a public key corresponding to the private key. At 1709, the node transmits the public key to all the other nodes in the network. Thereafter, as illustrated at 1711, the node may use public-private key encryption using the generated keys to encrypt and/or decrypt its communications with other nodes of the network.

Finally, at 1713, the node passes the packet to the next node (unless this node is the final destination node).

In other embodiments, the aforementioned techniques may be used to generate encryption keys for use in entirely different applications. That is, one may generate an extremely random encryption key as described herein quickly and at minimum cost and then use it in any other network, environment, or application, rather than for encryption in the network in which it was created.

Referring to FIG. 9 , in an embodiment disclosed subject matter includes system 900 for identification, communication, monitoring, and control of electronic devices at a site. System 900 may include a first node 906 and second node 908 at the site. The first node 906 and second node 908 may be identical, except that each node may be connected to different infrastructure at the site and/or each node may include different sets or groups of multifunction communication cubes (MCC's). The first node 906 is exemplary and will be described in further detail. First node 906 may include a plurality of multifunction communication cubes (MCC's)(914, 916, 918, 920) at the site. It will be understood that each multifunction communication cube (914, 916, 918, 920) may include all, or a subset, of the same or similar components, features, and functionality of apparatus 100, apparatus 200, and apparatus 300 described in detail elsewhere in this application. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 9 , the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's) are more specifically characterized by reference to such devices including wireless communications subsystems (MCCW1, MCCW2), and other such devices including both wireless communications subsystems and wired or powerline connections (designated MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2). First node 906 may include, for example, multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) connected to a subject wired circuit having at least one subject wired device (PD1, PD2) connected thereto. A subject circuit may be, for example, an electrical circuit of a building to provide power to electronic devices, or any other suitable circuit such as a wired Ethernet connection of such a building. As shown in FIG. 9 , each MCC may be connected to at least one conductor of the subject circuit via a clamp as described elsewhere and shown in FIGS. 11-13 , or may be otherwise connected or installed in conductive relationship with at least one conductor or wire of the subject circuit. First node 906 may include, for example, multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) each connected to subject wireless communication channels and providing wireless connections to each subject wireless electronic device (WD1, WD2) within wireless reception and transmission range of such multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2). A subject wireless communication channel may be, for example, a ZigBee, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless communication channel or infrastructure associated with the building or structure at the site, associated with a network at the site, or associated with subject wireless electronic devices present at the site. Each MCC may ping overall available inputs (P1, P2) of the MCC to a subject wired circuit to subject wired devices (PD1, PD2) and to subject wireless communications channels to subject wireless devices (WD1, WD2). The plurality of multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) each may also include suitable wireless communication subsystems, such as 6LoWPAN subsystems, providing wireless communication channels and enabling wireless connections with each other multifunction communication cube (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) within wireless reception and transmission range of such multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2). Each of the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) may receive device signal information, signal noise, and/or conflated device signals via available inputs of the MCC from the respective subject circuits and subject wireless communications channels. Each of the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) may aggregate by an MCC local processor device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals recorded from each of the inputs of the CC, to generate an aggregated digital impression or multidimensional digital impression information including recorded signal noise and recorded wireless communications information. Each of the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) may perform disambiguation determining or analyzing of constituent unique device waveforms in recorded device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals, by the local processor of the MCC comparing the recorded device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals with samples of known unique device waveforms of known devices and/or devices previously or contemporaneously identified at the site, which are stored in MCC memory and/or stored in a local database of the MCC or any MCC in communication with the subject MCC at the site. Each of the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) may perform local identifying of devices from the aggregated digital impression information by the MCC. Each of the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) may perform transmitting of aggregated digital impression information from the MCC to a remote device, such as a remote server 925, via a connection to an external communications network. It will be understood that, for example, the remote server 925 may be accessed over the Internet. Remote server 925 may perform remote disambiguation determining or analyzing of aggregated digital impression or multidimensional digital impression information including recorded signal noise and recorded wireless communications information to identify constituent unique device waveforms in recorded device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals, and to identify constituent device wireless communications properties or wireless constituent device identification information, by a remote processor of the remote server 925 comparing the recorded device signal information, signal noise and/or conflated device signals with samples of known unique device waveforms of known devices and/or devices previously or contemporaneously identified at the site, and comparing recorded wireless communications information with known wireless communications information or properties of known devices or device types to identify constituent device wireless communications properties or wireless constituent device unique identification information, which are stored in memory (not shown) associated with the remote server and/or stored in a remote database (not shown). It will be understood that one suitable database of known devices and device waveforms and identification information may be, for example, the MIT Project Dilon signal fingerprint database. Remote server 925 may perform analyzing to identify devices connected to a subject circuit or capable of communicating over a subject wireless communication channel or wireless infrastructure at the site, by identifying unique device waveforms of known devices that produce same, or identifying device wireless communications information or properties of known devices, from the remote database. Remote server 925 may transmit identification information of devices from the remote server over a suitable communications network to the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2). Each of the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) may perform associating of device control pathways, such as command signals, with each identified device connected to a subject circuit connected to a multifunction communication cube (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) or visible over a wireless communications connection or channel to a multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2), by a processor of the same. It will be understood that command signals of devices may be obtained from local memory of the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2). Multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2) by the local MCC processor may generate or transmit command signals or control signals associated with identified devices connected to the subject circuit, and/or over a wireless communications connection or channel, to interact with and control aspects of such identified devices. It will be understood that, in some embodiments, command signals or control signals may be communicated to such identified devices over a wireless connection to an identified device, via a suitable wireless subsystem of the multifunction communication cubes (MCC's designated MCCW1, MCCW2, MCCW+P1, MCCW+P2). It will be understood that the first node 906 and second node 908 may communicate and share information regarding wired electronic devices (PD1, PD2) and wireless devices (WD1, WD2).

FIG. 10 illustrates a system 1000 including network 1004 having a first node 1006 and second node 1008. Each of the first node 1006 and second node 1008 include a respective single multifunction communication cube (MCC) (1016, 1026) having wireless and wired communications capabilities and subsystems. System 1000 may be otherwise identical, or substantially similar, to system 900 illustrated in FIG. 9 .

Referring now also to FIG. 14 , the systems illustrated in FIGS. 1-13, 16 and 17 may also be configured to operate with system 1400. The system 1400 may be configured to couple with the systems in FIGS. 1-13 , interact with the systems in FIGS. 1-13 , facilitate the operative functionality of the systems in FIGS. 1-13 , and/or conduct any of the functionality described in the present disclosure. Notably, the system 1400 may be configured to support, but is not limited to supporting, monitoring systems and services, data analytics systems and services, artificial intelligence services and systems, machine learning services and systems, content delivery services, edge computing services, cloud computing services, satellite services, telephone services, voice-over-internet protocol services (VoIP), software as a service (SaaS) applications, platform as a service (PaaS) applications, gaming applications and services, social media applications and services, operations management applications and services, productivity applications and services, mobile applications and services, and/or any other computing applications and services. Notably, the system 1400 may include a first user 1401, who may utilize a first user device 1402 to access data, content, and services, or to perform a variety of other tasks and functions. As an example, the first user 1401 may utilize first user device 1402 to transmit signals to access various online services and content, such as those available on an internet, on other devices, and/or on various computing systems. As another example, the first user device 1402 may be utilized to access an application that provides any or all of the operative functions of the system 1400. In certain embodiments, the first user 1401 may be a bystander, any type of person, a robot, a humanoid, a program, a computer, any type of user, or a combination thereof, that may be located in a particular environment. The first user device 1402 may include a memory 1403 that includes instructions, and a processor 1404 that executes the instructions from the memory 1403 to perform the various operations that are performed by the first user device 1402. In certain embodiments, the processor 1404 may be hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The first user device 1402 may also include an interface 1405 (e.g. screen, monitor, graphical user interface, etc.) that may enable the first user 1401 to interact with various applications executing on the first user device 1402 and to interact with the system 1400. In certain embodiments, the first user device 1402 may be and/or may include a computer, any type of sensor, a laptop, a set-top-box, a tablet device, a phablet, a server, a mobile device, a smartphone, a smart watch, and/or any other type of computing device. Illustratively, the first user device 1402 is shown as a smartphone device in FIG. 14 . In certain embodiments, the first user device 1402 may be utilized by the first user 1401 to control and/or provide some or all of the operative functionality of the system 1400.

In addition to using first user device 1402, the first user 1401 may also utilize and/or have access to additional user devices. As with first user device 1402, the first user 1401 may utilize the additional user devices to transmit signals to access various online services and content. The additional user devices may include memories that include instructions, and processors that execute the instructions from the memories to perform the various operations that are performed by the additional user devices. In certain embodiments, the processors of the additional user devices may be hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The additional user devices may also include interfaces that may enable the first user 1401 to interact with various applications executing on the additional user devices and to interact with the system 1400. In certain embodiments, the first user device 1402 and/or the additional user devices may be and/or may include a computer, any type of sensor, a laptop, a set-top-box, a tablet device, a phablet, a server, a mobile device, a smartphone, a smart watch, and/or any other type of computing device, and/or any combination thereof. Sensors may include, but are not limited to, industrial sensors, motion sensors, pressure sensors, environmental sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors, biological sensors, heart-rate sensors, blood pressure sensors, sweat detection sensors, breath-detection sensors, stress-detection sensors, any type of health sensor, humidity sensors, any type of sensors, or a combination thereof. The sensors for the first user device 1402 may communicate with the sensors of any of the communication cubes as disclosed in the present disclosure.

The first user device 1402 and/or additional user devices may belong to and/or form a communications network. In certain embodiments, the communications network may be a local, mesh, or other network that enables and/or facilitates various aspects of the functionality of the system 1400. In certain embodiments, the communications network may be formed between the first user device 1402 and additional user devices through the use of any type of wireless or other protocol and/or technology. For example, user devices may communicate with one another in the communications network by utilizing any protocol wired and/or wireless technology, satellite, fiber, or any combination thereof. Notably, the communications network may be configured to communicatively link with and/or communicate with any other network of the system 1400 and/or outside the system 1400. In certain embodiments, the first user device 1402 and/or additional user device may form a mesh network with the communication cubes described in the present disclosure

In addition to the first user 1401, the system 1400 may also include a second user 1410. The second user device 1411 may be utilized by the second user 1410 (or even potentially the first user 1401) to transmit signals to request various types of content, services, and data provided by and/or accessible by communications network 1435 or any other network in the system 1400. In further embodiments, the second user 1410 may be a robot, a computer, a humanoid, an animal, any type of user, or any combination thereof. The second user device 1411 may include a memory 1412 that includes instructions, and a processor 1413 that executes the instructions from the memory 1412 to perform the various operations that are performed by the second user device 1411. In certain embodiments, the processor 1413 may be hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The second user device 1411 may also include an interface 1414 (e.g. screen, monitor, graphical user interface, etc.) that may enable the first user 1401 to interact with various applications executing on the second user device 1411 and to interact with the system 1400. In certain embodiments, the second user device 1411 may be a computer, a laptop, a set-top-box, a tablet device, a phablet, a server, a mobile device, a smartphone, a smart watch, and/or any other type of computing device. Illustratively, the second user device 1411 is shown as a mobile device in FIG. 14 . In certain embodiments, the second user device 1411 may also include sensors, such as, but are not limited to, motion sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors, heart-rate sensors, blood pressure sensors, sweat detection sensors, breath-detection sensors, stress-detection sensors, any type of health sensor, humidity sensors, any type of sensors, or a combination thereof.

The system 1400 may also include a communications network 1435. The communications network 1435 may be under the control of a service provider, the first user 1401, the second user 1410, any other designated user, a computer, another network, or a combination thereof. The communications network 1435 of the system 1400 may be configured to link each of the devices in the system 1400 to one another. For example, the communications network 1435 may be utilized by the first user device 1402 to connect with other devices within or outside communications network 1435. Additionally, the communications network 1435 may be configured to transmit, generate, and receive any information and data traversing the system 1400. In certain embodiments, the communications network 1435 may include any number of servers, databases, or other componentry. The communications network 1435 may also include and be connected to a mesh network, a local network, an edge computing network, a cloud-computing network, an IMS network, a VoIP network, a security network, a VoLTE network, a wireless network, an Ethernet network, a satellite network, a broadband network, a cellular network, a private network, a cable network, the Internet, an internet protocol network, MPLS network, a power line network, a content distribution network, any network, or any combination thereof. Illustratively, servers 1440, 1445, and 1450 are shown as being included within communications network 1435. In certain embodiments, the communications network 1435 may be part of a single autonomous system that is located in a particular geographic region, or be part of multiple autonomous systems that span several geographic regions.

Notably, the functionality of the system 1400 may be supported and executed by using any combination of the servers 1440, 1445, 1450, and 1460. The servers 1440, 1445, and 1450 may reside in communications network 1435, however, in certain embodiments, the servers 1440, 1445, 1450 may reside outside communications network 1435. The servers 1440, 1445, and 1450 may provide and serve as a server service that performs the various operations and functions provided by the system 1400. In certain embodiments, the server 1440 may include a memory 1441 that includes instructions, and a processor 1442 that executes the instructions from the memory 1441 to perform various operations that are performed by the server 1440. The processor 1442 may be hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Similarly, the server 1445 may include a memory 1446 that includes instructions, and a processor 1447 that executes the instructions from the memory 1446 to perform the various operations that are performed by the server 145. Furthermore, the server 150 may include a memory 1451 that includes instructions, and a processor 1452 that executes the instructions from the memory 1451 to perform the various operations that are performed by the server 1450. In certain embodiments, the servers 1440, 1445, 1450, and 1460 may be network servers, routers, gateways, switches, media distribution hubs, signal transfer points, service control points, service switching points, firewalls, routers, edge devices, nodes, computers, mobile devices, or any other suitable computing device, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the servers 14440, 1445, 1450 may be communicatively linked to the communications network 1435, any network, any device in the system 1400, or any combination thereof.

The database 1455 of the system 1400 may be utilized to store and relay information that traverses the system 1400, cache content that traverses the system 1400, store data about each of the devices in the system 1400 and perform any other typical functions of a database. In certain embodiments, the database 1455 may be connected to or reside within the communications network 1435, any other network, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the database 1455 may serve as a central repository for any information associated with any of the devices and information associated with the system 1400. Furthermore, the database 1455 may include a processor and memory or be connected to a processor and memory to perform the various operation associated with the database 1455. In certain embodiments, the database 1455 may be connected to the servers 1440, 1445, 1450, 1460, the first user device 1402, the second user device 1411, the additional user devices, any devices in the system 1400, any process of the system 1400, any program of the system 1400, any other device, any network, or any combination thereof.

The database 1455 may also store information and metadata obtained from the system 1400, store metadata and other information associated with the first and second users 1401, 1410, store communications traversing the system 1400, store user preferences, store information associated with any device or signal in the system 1400, store information relating to patterns of usage relating to the user devices 1402, 1411, store any information obtained from any of the networks in the system 1400, store historical data associated with the first and second users 1401, 1410, store device characteristics, store information relating to any devices associated with the first and second users 1401, 1410, store information associated with the communications network 1435, store any information generated and/or processed by the system 1400, store any of the information disclosed for any of the operations and functions disclosed for the system 1400 herewith, store any information traversing the system 1400, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the database 1455 may be configured to process queries sent to it by any device in the system 1400.

Notably, as shown in FIG. 14 , the system 1400 may perform any of the operative functions disclosed herein by utilizing the processing capabilities of server 1460, the storage capacity of the database 1455, or any other component of the system 1400 to perform the operative functions disclosed herein. The server 1460 may include one or more processors 1462 that may be configured to process any of the various functions of the system 1400. The processors 1462 may be software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. Additionally, the server 1460 may also include a memory 1461, which stores instructions that the processors 1462 may execute to perform various operations of the system 1400. For example, the server 1460 may assist in processing loads handled by the various devices in the system 1400, such as, but not limited to, monitoring a state of a mesh network including any number of communication cubes; monitoring the connections between communication cubes and/or other devices in the mesh network; updating routing tables indicating connection changes of the mesh network; determining that status of each communication (and/or node) in the mesh network; determining radio signal strength to a communication cube (and/or node) from a device of interest; determining data rates associated with the mesh network; determining error rates associated with the mesh network; monitoring wired connections in addition to wireless connections of the network; selecting the best performing path via the mesh network to send data to a destination; determining alternate routes within the mesh network in the event a cube and/or node fails in the mesh network; performing monitoring at selected time intervals; probing connections that each communication cube locates; building a network of connections based on MAC addresses associated with the connections; testing the speed of detected connections; testing the data rate of the mesh network; determining an accuracy of data transmitted; building tables with data on detected cubes and/or nodes; transmitting the table and/or information to a subset or all of the mesh network; building a routing table that prioritizes the fastest data for the best path to each node/cube; and performing any other suitable operations conducted in the system 100 or otherwise. In one embodiment, multiple servers 1460 may be utilized to process the functions of the system 1400. The server 1460 and other devices in the system 100, may utilize the database 1455 for storing data about the devices in the system 1400 or any other information that is associated with the system 1400. In one embodiment, multiple databases 1455 may be utilized to store data in the system 1400.

Although FIG. 14 illustrates specific example configurations of the various components of the system 1400, the system 1400 may include any configuration of the components, which may include using a greater or lesser number of the components. For example, the system 1400 is illustratively shown as including a first user device 1402, a second user device 1411, a communications network 1435, a server 1440, a server 1445, a server 1450, a server 1460, and a database 1455. However, the system 1400 may include multiple first user devices 1402, multiple second user devices 1411, multiple communications networks 1435, multiple servers 1440, multiple servers 1445, multiple servers 1450, multiple servers 1460, multiple databases 1455, or any number of any of the other components inside or outside the system 1400. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, substantial portions of the functionality and operations of the system 1400 may be performed by other networks and systems that may be connected to system 1400.

Notably, the system 1400 may execute and/or conduct the functionality as described in the method(s) above, such as the methods described in connection with FIGS. 16 and 17 .

Referring now also to FIG. 15 , at least a portion of the methodologies and techniques described with respect to the exemplary embodiments of the system 1500 can incorporate a machine, such as, but not limited to, computer system 1500, or other computing device within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies or functions discussed above. The machine may be configured to facilitate various operations conducted by the system 1400. For example, the machine may be configured to, but is not limited to, assist the system 1400 by providing processing power to assist with processing loads experienced in the system 1400, by providing storage capacity for storing instructions or data traversing the system 1400, or by assisting with any other operations conducted by or within the system 1400. As another example, the computer system 1500 may assist with monitoring a mesh network of the system and/or communication cubes of the system.

In some embodiments, the machine may operate as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using communications network 1435, another network, or a combination thereof) to and assist with operations performed by other machines and systems, such as, but not limited to, the first user device 1402, the second user device 1411, the server 1440, the server 1445, the server 1450, the database 1455, the server 1460, any other system, program, and/or device, or any combination thereof. The machine may be connected with any component in the system 1400. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smartphone computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 1500 may include a processor 1502 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory 1504 and a static memory 1506, which communicate with each other via a bus 1508. The computer system 1500 may further include a video display unit 1510, which may be, but is not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid-state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT). The computer system 1500 may include an input device 1512, such as, but not limited to, a keyboard, a cursor control device 1514, such as, but not limited to, a mouse, a disk drive unit 1516, a signal generation device 1518, such as, but not limited to, a speaker or remote control, and a network interface device 1520.

The disk drive unit 1516 may include a machine-readable medium 1522 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions 1524, such as, but not limited to, software embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 1524 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 1504, the static memory 1506, or within the processor 1502, or a combination thereof, during execution thereof by the computer system 1500. The main memory 1504 and the processor 1502 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine-readable medium 1522 containing instructions 1524 so that a device connected to the communications network 1435, another network, or a combination thereof, can send or receive voice, video or data, and communicate over the communications network 1435, another network, or a combination thereof, using the instructions. The instructions 1524 may further be transmitted or received over the communications network 1435, another network, or a combination thereof, via the network interface device 1520.

While the machine-readable medium 1522 is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that causes the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure.

The terms “machine-readable medium,” “machine-readable device,” or “computer-readable device” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: memory devices, solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. The “machine-readable medium,” “machine-readable device,” or “computer-readable device” may be non-transitory, and, in certain embodiments, may not include a wave or signal per se. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored.

The illustrations of arrangements described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Other arrangements may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Thus, although specific arrangements have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific arrangement shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments and arrangements of the invention. Combinations of the above arrangements, and other arrangements not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular arrangement(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments and arrangements falling within the scope of the appended claims.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention. Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. 

We claim:
 1. A communication apparatus for deployment as a node in a mesh communication network, the communication apparatus comprising: a transmitter; a receiver; a memory that stores instructions; and a processor that executes the instructions to perform operations, the instructions comprising: instructions for receiving from another node of a network a packet for relay to a destination network node; instructions for randomly selecting (i) a network node to which to transmit the packet and (ii) a transmission mode by which to transmit the packet to the randomly selected network node; and instructions for transmitting the packet to the randomly selected network node using the randomly selected transmission mode.
 2. The communication apparatus of claim 1 wherein the instructions for randomly selecting the network node to which to transmit the packet is selected from a plurality of network nodes, including the destination node.
 3. The communication apparatus of claim 1 wherein the instructions further comprise: instructions for reading a packet header of the packet, wherein the header includes pathway information disclosing at least a portion of a pathway that the packet traversed through the network to the communication apparatus, the pathway information including at least one node that the packet has traversed and the transmission mode by which the packet traversed the at least one node.
 4. The communication apparatus of claim 3 wherein each combination of (i) a node and a (ii) transmission mode by which the node received or transmitted a packet has a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address and wherein the pathway information in the header is comprised of the MAC address of the at least one node that the packet traversed to the communication apparatus.
 5. The communication apparatus of claim 4 wherein the pathway information in the header includes information as to an order in which the nodes were traversed.
 6. The communication apparatus of claim 5 wherein the instructions further comprise: instructions for updating the pathway information in the header of the packet with a MAC address corresponding to a next network node to which the packet will be transmitted before transmitting the packet to the next network node.
 7. The communication apparatus of claim 4 wherein the instructions for randomly selecting comprises: instructions for generating a random number; and instructions for using the random number to randomly select a network node and transmission mode.
 8. The communication node of claim 7 wherein the generating of the random number comprises: generating a first number using a software-based random number generator (RNG); and generating a second number from the first random number using a hardware-based RNG, the second number comprising the random number.
 9. The communication apparatus of claim 8 wherein each combination of (i) a network node to which the packet may be transmitted and (ii) a transmission mode by which the packet may be transmitted to such node is assigned an index, wherein the instructions for randomly selecting further comprise: instructions to use the second number to select one of the indices.
 10. The communication apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmission mode is selected from at least any two of Ethernet, Wi-Fi, powerline, and Bluetooth.
 11. An apparatus for generating an encryption key, the apparatus comprising: a transmitter; a receiver; a memory that stores instructions; and a processor that executes the instructions to perform operations, the instructions comprising: instructions for receiving a packet in a mesh network, wherein the packet includes a header, wherein the header includes pathway information disclosing at least a portion of a pathway that the packet had traversed through the network; instructions for generating a random number based on the pathway information; and instructions for generating an encryption key based on the random number.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the pathway of the packet through the network has been randomized.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the pathway information includes at least an identity of the at least one network node that the packet traversed through the network and a transmission mode by which the at least one node received the packet.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the instructions further comprise: instructions for using the encryption key to encrypt data transmitted by the apparatus.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the instructions for generating an encryption key comprise: instructions for generating a private encryption key as a function of the random number; and instructions for generating a corresponding public encryption key as a function of the private encryption key, whereby a public-private encryption key pair is created.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the instructions further comprise: instructions for transmitting the public encryption key to other network nodes of the network; and instructions for using the public-private encryption key pair to encrypt and decrypt communications between the communication apparatus and other network nodes in a network.
 17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the pathway information includes at least an identity of the at least one network node that the packet traversed through the network, and the transmission mode by which the at least one node received the packet.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the instructions further comprise: instructions for using the encryption key to encrypt data transmitted by the communication apparatus.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the instructions for generating an encryption key comprise: instructions for generating a private encryption key as a function of the random number; and instructions for generating a corresponding public encryption key as a function of the private encryption key, whereby a public-private encryption key pair is created.
 20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program code, the computer program code when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations, the computer program code comprising instructions to: receive a packet in a mesh network, wherein the packet includes a header, wherein the header includes pathway information disclosing at least a portion of a pathway that the packet had traversed through the network; generate a random number based on the pathway information; and generate an encryption key based on the random number. 